Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat, secured a significant victory in the contest for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, a seat previously held by her late father, Raúl Grijalva. This victory marks a continuation of her father’s legacy in southern Arizona.
The announcement of Grijalva’s win came shortly after 8 p.m. During her victory speech at El Casino Ballroom in Tucson, she emphasized her father’s dedication to public service, stating, “He literally … he literally fought until his last breath for this community.” Grijalva described her father as “the most progressive member of Congress, full stop.”
Grijalva intends to carry forward her father’s legacy across regions including the Tohono O’odham Nation, parts of Tucson, and border towns like Nogales and San Luis. State Sen. Priya Sundareshan, representing District 18, expressed her hopes that Grijalva would address border issues and challenge the Trump administration’s deportation policies and ICE operations.
Sundareshan, who is involved in Colorado River negotiations, also wants Arizona’s congressional delegation to advocate for the state’s water rights. Meanwhile, Nasir Raza, who traveled from Scottsdale to campaign for Grijalva, highlighted her potential to address international issues, particularly regarding Palestine, following in her father’s footsteps.
In her address, Grijalva revealed her intention to support a bipartisan discharge petition to release the Department of Justice’s findings on Jeffrey Epstein. She also expressed interest in joining the House Committee on Education & the Workforce and the House Committee of Natural Resources, a committee her father previously led.
Union leader Crystal Padilla of Local 11, one of the unions backing Grijalva, voiced a desire for Grijalva to champion policies benefiting Arizona communities, particularly the working class. “I guess I’m just seeing an attack on working class people right now, and so I just want to see Adelita be able to fight back for us,” Padilla noted.
Grijalva’s swearing-in could occur this month, contingent on the outcome of ongoing budget negotiations and the potential for a government shutdown.
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